GA-F2A78M-DS2

User's ManualRev. 300112ME-F278MS2-3001R

MotherboardGA-F2A78M-DS2

Dec. 12, 2013

Dec. 12, 2013

Motherboard

GA-F2A78M-DS2

Copyright© 2013 GIGA-BYTE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. All rights reserved.The trademarks mentioned in this manual are legally registered to their respective owners.

DisclaimerInformation in this manual is protected by copyright laws and is the property of GIGABYTE.Changes to the specifications and features in this manual may be made by GIGABYTE without prior notice.

No part of this manual may be reproduced, copied, translated, transmitted, or published in any form or by any means without GIGABYTE's prior written permission.

� In order to assist in the use of this product, carefully read the User's Manual. � For product-related information, check on our website at: http://www.gigabyte.com

Identifying Your Motherboard RevisionThe revision number on your motherboard looks like this: "REV: X.X." For example, "REV: 1.0" means the revision of the motherboard is 1.0. Check your motherboard revision before updating motherboard BIOS, drivers, or when looking for technical information.Example:

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Table of ContentsGA-F2A78M-DS2 Motherboard Layout ...........................................................................4GA-F2A78M-DS2 Motherboard Block Diagram ...............................................................5

Chapter 1 Hardware Installation .....................................................................................61-1 Installation Precautions .................................................................................... 61-2 Product Specifications ...................................................................................... 71-3 Installing the APU ............................................................................................. 91-4 Installing the Memory ....................................................................................... 91-5 Installing an Expansion Card ......................................................................... 101-6 Setup of the AMD Dual Graphics Configuration ............................................. 101-7 Back Panel Connectors .................................................................................. 111-8 Internal Connectors ........................................................................................ 12

Chapter 2 BIOS Setup ..................................................................................................172-1 Startup Screen ............................................................................................... 172-2 M.I.T. .............................................................................................................. 182-3 System Information ........................................................................................ 212-4 BIOS Features ............................................................................................... 222-5 Peripherals ..................................................................................................... 252-6 Power Management ....................................................................................... 272-7 Save & Exit ..................................................................................................... 28

Chapter 3 Appendix ......................................................................................................293-1 Configuring SATA Hard Drive(s) ..................................................................... 293-2 Drivers Installation .......................................................................................... 32

Regulatory Statements .............................................................................................. 33Contact Us ................................................................................................................ 36

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GA-F2A78M-DS2 Motherboard Layout

The box contents above are for reference only and the actual items shall depend on the product package you obtain. The box contents are subject to change without notice.

Box Contents 5 GA-F2A78M-DS2 motherboard 5 Motherboard driver disk 5 Two SATA cables 5 User's Manual 5 I/O Shield

KB_MS_USB

CPU_FAN

ATX

GA-F2A78M-DS2

F_AUDIO

AUDIO

B_BIOS

DDR3

_1

DDR3

_2BAT

F_PANEL

ATX_12V

DVI

CODEC

CLR_CMOS

M_BIOS

VGA

USB30_LAN

PCIEX16

PCIEX1

PCI

F_USB1

F_USB2

COM

SYS_FAN

Socket FM2+

R_USB

Realtek® GbE LAN

AMD A78

SPDIF_O

SATA323

iTE® Super I/O

0 1SATA3F_USB30

CI

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For detailed product information/limitation(s), refer to "1-2 Product Specifications."

GA-F2A78M-DS2 Motherboard Block Diagram

AMD APU

UMI

APU CLK+/- (100 MHz)

Dual Channel Memory

PCI Express Bus

COMLPC Bus

1 PCI

PCI Bus

Dual BIOS

PCI CLK (33 MHz)

PCIe CLK (100 MHz)

PS/2 KB/Mouse

8 USB 2.0/1.1

4 USB 3.0/2.0

LAN

RJ45

x1

x1x16

Realtek® GbE LAN

1 x PCI Express x1

1 PCI Express x16

D-Sub

4 SATA 6Gb/s

DISP CLK+/- (100 MHz)DDR3 2133/1866/ 1600/1333 MHz

DVI-D

iTE® Super I/O

S/PD

IF O

ut

Line O

ut (F

ront

Spea

ker O

ut)

MIC

(Cen

ter/S

ubwo

ofer

Spea

ker O

ut)

Line I

n (Re

ar S

peak

er O

ut)

CODEC

AMD A78

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Chapter 1 Hardware Installation1-1 Installation PrecautionsThe motherboard contains numerous delicate electronic circuits and components which can become damaged as a result of electrostatic discharge (ESD). Prior to installation, carefully read the user's manual and follow these procedures:

• Prior to installation, make sure the chassis is suitable for the motherboard. • Prior to installation, do not remove or break motherboard S/N (Serial Number) sticker or

warranty sticker provided by your dealer. These stickers are required for warranty validation. • Always remove the AC power by unplugging the power cord from the power outlet before

installing or removing the motherboard or other hardware components. • When connecting hardware components to the internal connectors on the motherboard, make

sure they are connected tightly and securely. • When handling the motherboard, avoid touching any metal leads or connectors. • It is best to wear an electrostatic discharge (ESD) wrist strap when handling electronic

components such as a motherboard, CPU or memory. If you do not have an ESD wrist strap, keep your hands dry and first touch a metal object to eliminate static electricity.

• Prior to installing the motherboard, please have it on top of an antistatic pad or within an electrostatic shielding container.

• Before unplugging the power supply cable from the motherboard, make sure the power supply has been turned off.

• Before turning on the power, make sure the power supply voltage has been set according to the local voltage standard.

• Before using the product, please verify that all cables and power connectors of your hardware components are connected.

• To prevent damage to the motherboard, do not allow screws to come in contact with the motherboard circuit or its components.

• Make sure there are no leftover screws or metal components placed on the motherboard or within the computer casing.

• Do not place the computer system on an uneven surface. • Do not place the computer system in a high-temperature environment. • Turning on the computer power during the installation process can lead to damage to system

components as well as physical harm to the user. • If you are uncertain about any installation steps or have a problem related to the use of the

product, please consult a certified computer technician.

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1-2 ProductSpecificationsAPU � FM2+ Socket:

- AMD A series processors- AMD Athlon™ series processors(Go to GIGABYTE's website for the latest CPU support list.)

Chipset � AMD A78

Memory � 2 x 1.5V DDR3 DIMM sockets supporting up to 64 GB of system memory * Due to a Windows 32-bit operating system limitation, when more than 4 GB of physical

memory is installed, the actual memory size displayed will be less than the size of the physical memory installed.

* The maximum 64 GB of system memory can be supported using 16 GB (or above) memory modules. GIGABYTE will update the memory support list on the official website when the memory modules are available on the market.

� Dual channel memory architecture � Support for DDR3 2133/1866/1600/1333 MHz memory modules � Support for AMD Memory Profile (AMP)/Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) memory

modules(Go to GIGABYTE's website for the latest supported memory speeds and memory modules.)

Onboard Graphics

� Integrated Graphics Processor: - 1 x D-Sub port, supporting a maximum resolution of 1920x1200 - 1 x DVI-D port, supporting a maximum resolution of 2560x1600 * Support for 2560x1600 resolution requires both a monitor and cable that support Dual

Link DVI. * The DVI-D port does not support D-Sub connection by adapter.

- Maximum shared memory of 2 GBAudio � Realtek® ALC887 codec

� High Definition Audio � 2/4/5.1/7.1-channel

* To configure 7.1-channel audio, you have to use an HD front panel audio module and enable the multi-channel audio feature through the audio driver.

� Support for S/PDIF Out

LAN � Realtek® GbE LAN chip (10/100/1000 Mbit)

Expansion Slots � 1 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x16 (PCIEX16) (The PCI Express x16 slot conforms to PCI Express 3.0 standard.)

* To support PCI Express 3.0, you must install an FM2+ APU. � 1 x PCI Express x1 slot

(The PCI Express x1 slot conforms to PCI Express 2.0 standard.) � 1 x PCI slot

Multi-Graphics Technology

� Support for AMD Dual Graphics technology � Support for AMD Eyefinity technology

Storage Interface � Chipset: - 4 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors - Support for RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 10, and JBOD

USB � Chipset:- 4 x USB 3.0/2.0 ports (2 ports on the back panel, 2 ports available through

the internal USB header)- 8 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports (4 ports on the back panel, 4 ports available through

the internal USB headers)

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Internal Connectors

� 1 x 24-pin ATX main power connector � 1 x 8-pin ATX 12V power connector � 4 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors � 1 x APU fan header � 1 x system fan header � 1 x front panel header � 1 x front panel audio header � 1 x S/PDIF Out header � 1 x USB 3.0/2.0 header � 2 x USB 2.0/1.1 headers � 1 x serial port header � 1 x Clear CMOS jumper � 1 x chassis intrusion header

Back Panel Connectors

� 1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse port � 1 x D-Sub port � 1 x DVI-D port � 2 x USB 3.0/2.0 ports � 4 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports � 1 x RJ-45 port � 3 x audio jacks (Line In, Line Out, Mic In)

I/O Controller � iTE® I/O Controller Chip

Hardware Monitor

� System voltage detection � APU/System temperature detection � APU/System fan speed detection � APU/System fan speed control

* Whether the fan speed control function is supported will depend on the cooler you install.

BIOS � 2 x 64 Mbit flash � Use of licensed AMI UEFI BIOS � Support for DualBIOS™

� PnP 1.0a, DMI 2.0, SM BIOS 2.6, ACPI 2.0aUnique Features � Support for @BIOS

� Support for Q-Flash � Support for Xpress Install � Support for EasyTune

* Available functions in EasyTune may differ by motherboard model. � Support for Smart Recovery 2 � Support for ON/OFF Charge

Bundled Software � Norton® Internet Security (OEM version)

Operating System

� Support for Windows 8.1/8/7 32-bit/64-bit � Support for Windows XP 32-bit

* To support Windows XP 32-bit, you must install an AMD FM2 Trinity APU.

Form Factor � Micro ATX Form Factor; 22.6cm x 17.4cm

* GIGABYTE reserves the right to make any changes to the product specifications and product-related information without prior notice.

* Please visit the Support & Downloads\Utility page on GIGABYTE's website to check the supported operating system(s) for the software listed in the "Unique Features" and "Bundled Software" columns.

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1-3 Installing the APURead the following guidelines before you begin to install the APU: • Make sure that the motherboard supports the APU.

(Go to GIGABYTE's website for the latest APU support list.) • Always turn off the computer and unplug the power cord from the power outlet before installing the

APU to prevent hardware damage. • Locate the pin one of the APU. The APU cannot be inserted if oriented incorrectly. • Apply an even and thin layer of thermal grease on the surface of the APU. • Do not turn on the computer if the APU cooler is not installed, otherwise overheating and damage

of the APU may occur. • Set the APU host frequency in accordance with the APU specifications. It is not recommended

that the system bus frequency be set beyond hardware specifications since it does not meet the standard requirements for the peripherals. If you wish to set the frequency beyond the standard specifications, please do so according to your hardware specifications including the APU, graphics card, memory, hard drive, etc.

Installing the APULocate the pin one (denoted by a small triangle) of the APU socket and the APU.

1-4 Installing the Memory

DualChannelMemoryConfigurationThis motherboard provides two DDR3 memory sockets and supports Dual Channel Technology. After the memory is installed, the BIOS will automatically detect the specifications and capacity of the memory. Enabling Dual Channel memory mode will double the original memory bandwidth.The two DDR3 memory sockets are divided into two channels and each channel has one memory socket as following:

�Channel A: DDR3_2 �Channel B: DDR3_1

Read the following guidelines before you begin to install the memory: • Make sure that the motherboard supports the memory. It is recommended that memory of the

same capacity, brand, speed, and chips be used.(Go to GIGABYTE's website for the latest supported memory speeds and memory modules.)

• Always turn off the computer and unplug the power cord from the power outlet before installing the memory to prevent hardware damage.

• Memory modules have a foolproof design. A memory module can be installed in only one direction. If you are unable to insert the memory, switch the direction.

Due to APU limitations, read the following guidelines before installing the memory in Dual Channel mode.1. Dual Channel mode cannot be enabled if only one DDR3 memory module is installed.2. When enabling Dual Channel mode with two memory modules, it is recommended that memory of

the same capacity, brand, speed, and chips be used for optimum performance.

APUA Small Triangle Marking Denotes Pin One of the Socket

FM2+ Socket A Small Triangle Marking Denotes

APU Pin One

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1-5 Installing an Expansion CardRead the following guidelines before you begin to install an expansion card: • Make sure the motherboard supports the expansion card. Carefully read the manual that came

with your expansion card. • Always turn off the computer and unplug the power cord from the power outlet before installing an

expansion card to prevent hardware damage.

1-6 SetupoftheAMDDualGraphicsConfigurationA. System Requirements

- An AMD A series processor that supports AMD Dual Graphics technology - Windows 8.1/8/7 operating system - An AMD Dual Graphics technology-supported motherboard and correct driver - An AMD graphics card that supports AMD Dual Graphics technology (for more details, please visit AMD's official website) and correct driver (For an FM2+ APU, please use an AMD R7 200 series graphics card; for an FM2 APU, please use an AMD Radeon™ HD 6000 graphics card.)

B.InstallingtheGraphicsCardsandConfiguringBIOSSetupStep 1:Observe the steps in "1-5 Installing an Expansion Card" and install an AMD Dual Graphics technology-supported graphics card on the PCIEX16 slot. Plug the monitor cable into the graphics card and start up your computer.Step 2:Enter BIOS Setup to set the following items under the Peripherals\GFX Configuration menu:

- Set Integrated Graphics to Force. - Set UMA Frame Buffer Size to 512M or above.

Save the settings and exit BIOS Setup. Restart your computer.

C.ConfiguringtheGraphicsCardDriverAfter installing the graphics card driver in the operating system, go to the AMDVISIONEngineControlCenter. Browse to Performance\AMD Radeon™ Dual Graphics and ensure the Enable AMD Radeon Dual Graphics check box is selected.

(Note) Make sure the drivers for the Chipset, onboard graphics, and external graphics card are properly installed.

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1-7 Back Panel Connectors

USB 2.0/1.1 PortThe USB port supports the USB 2.0/1.1 specification. Use this port for USB devices such as a USB keyboard/mouse, USB printer, USB flash drive and etc.PS/2 Keyboard and PS/2 Mouse PortUse this port to connect a PS/2 mouse or keyboard.D-Sub PortThe D-Sub port supports a 15-pin D-Sub connector and supports a maximum resolution of 1920x1200. Connect a monitor that supports D-Sub connection to this port.DVI-D Port (Note)The DVI-D port conforms to the DVI-D specification and supports a maximum resolution of 2560x1600. Connect a monitor that supports DVI-D connection to this port. Please note that the actual resolutions supported are dependent on the monitor being used and support for 2560x1600 resolution requires both a monitor and cable that support Dual Link DVI.RJ-45LANPortThe Gigabit Ethernet LAN port provides Internet connection at up to 1 Gbps data rate. The following describes the states of the LAN port LEDs.

(Note) The DVI-D port does not support D-Sub connection by adapter.

Activity LEDConnection/Speed LED

LAN Port

Connection/Speed LED:State DescriptionOrange 1 Gbps data rateGreen 100 Mbps data rateOff 10 Mbps data rate

Activity LED:State DescriptionBlinking Data transmission or receiving is occurringOff No data transmission or receiving is occurring

USB 3.0/2.0 PortThe USB 3.0 port supports the USB 3.0 specification and is compatible to the USB 2.0/1.1 specification. Use this port for USB devices such as a USB keyboard/mouse, USB printer, USB flash drive and etc.LineInJack(Blue)The default line in jack. Use this audio jack for line in devices such as an optical drive, walkman, etc.LineOutJack(Green)The default line out jack. Use this audio jack for a headphone or 2-channel speaker. This jack can be used to connect front speakers in a 4/5.1/7.1-channel audio configuration.MicInJack(Pink)The default Mic in jack. Microphones must be connected to this jack.

• When removing the cable connected to a back panel connector, first remove the cable from your device and then remove it from the motherboard.

• When removing the cable, pull it straight out from the connector. Do not rock it side to side to prevent an electrical short inside the cable connector.

To configure 7.1-channel audio, you have to use an HD front panel audio module and enable the multi-channel audio feature through the audio driver.

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1-8 Internal Connectors

Read the following guidelines before connecting external devices: • First make sure your devices are compliant with the connectors you wish to connect. • Before installing the devices, be sure to turn off the devices and your computer. Unplug the power

cord from the power outlet to prevent damage to the devices. • After installing the device and before turning on the computer, make sure the device cable has

been securely attached to the connector on the motherboard.

1) ATX_12V2) ATX3) CPU_FAN4) SYS_FAN5) SATA3 0/1/2/36) F_PANEL7) SPDIF_O

8) F_AUDIO9) F_USB3010) F_USB1/F_USB211) COM12) CLR_CMOS13) CI14) BAT

1

2

5

1210

14

8

911

7

3

5

6

13

4

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1/2)ATX_12V/ATX(2x412VPowerConnectorand2x12MainPowerConnector) With the use of the power connector, the power supply can supply enough stable power to all the components

on the motherboard. Before connecting the power connector, first make sure the power supply is turned off and all devices are properly installed. The power connector possesses a foolproof design. Connect the power supply cable to the power connector in the correct orientation.

The 12V power connector mainly supplies power to the APU. If the 12V power connector is not connected, the computer will not start.

3/4)CPU_FAN/SYS_FAN(FanHeaders) All fan headers on this motherboard are 4-pin. Most fan headers possess a foolproof insertion design.

When connecting a fan cable, be sure to connect it in the correct orientation (the black connector wire is the ground wire). The speed control function requires the use of a fan with fan speed control design. For optimum heat dissipation, it is recommended that a system fan be installed inside the chassis.

To meet expansion requirements, it is recommended that a power supply that can withstand high power consumption be used (500W or greater). If a power supply is used that does not provide the required power, the result can lead to an unstable or unbootable system.

ATX_12V:

DEBUG PORT

131

2412

ATX

ATX:

Pin No. Definition Pin No. Definition1 3.3V 13 3.3V2 3.3V 14 -12V3 GND 15 GND4 +5V 16 PS_ON (soft On/Off)5 GND 17 GND6 +5V 18 GND7 GND 19 GND8 Power Good 20 -5V9 5VSB (stand by +5V) 21 +5V

10 +12V 22 +5V11 +12V (Only for 2x12-pin

ATX)23 +5V (Only for 2x12-pin ATX)

12 3.3V (Only for 2x12-pin ATX)

24 GND (Only for 2x12-pin ATX)

CPU_FANSYS_FAN

DEBUG PORT

DEBUG PORT

11

CPU_FAN:Pin No. Definition

1 GND2 +12V3 Sense4 Speed Control

• Be sure to connect fan cables to the fan headers to prevent your APU and system from overheating. Overheating may result in damage to the APU or the system may hang.

• These fan headers are not configuration jumper blocks. Do not place a jumper cap on the headers.

ATX_12V

DEBUG PORT

5

8

1

4

Pin No. Definition Pin No. Definition1 GND (Only for 2x4-pin 12V) 5 +12V (Only for 2x4-pin 12V)2 GND (Only for 2x4-pin 12V) 6 +12V (Only for 2x4-pin 12V)3 GND 7 +12V4 GND 8 +12V

SYS_FAN:Pin No. Definition

1 GND2 Speed Control3 Sense4 VCC

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5) SATA30/1/2/3(SATA6Gb/sConnectors) The SATA connectors conform to SATA 6Gb/s standard and are compatible with SATA 3Gb/s and SATA

1.5Gb/s standard. Each SATA connector supports a single SATA device. The AMD A78 Chipset supports RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 10, and JBOD. Refer to Chapter 3, "Configuring SATA Hard Drive(s)," for instructions on configuring a RAID array.

Pin No. Definition Pin No. Definition1 GND 5 RXN2 TXP 6 RXP3 TXN 7 GND4 GND

6) F_PANEL(FrontPanelHeader) Connect the power switch, reset switch, and system status indicator on the chassis to this header according

to the pin assignments below. Note the positive and negative pins before connecting the cables.

• PLED (Power LED):System Status LEDS0 OnS3/S4/S5 Off

Connects to the power status indicator on the chassis front panel. The LED is on when the system is operating. The LED is off when the system is in S3/S4 sleep state or powered off (S5).

The front panel design may differ by chassis. A front panel module mainly consists of power switch, reset switch, hard drive activity LED and etc. When connecting your chassis front panel module to this header, make sure the wire assignments and the pin assignments are matched correctly.

7

DEBUG PORT

23

SATA3

1

DEBUG PORT

DEBUG PORT

DEBUG PORT

7

0 1SATA3

1

109

21

RES-

HD+ RES+

HD-PW

+

PLED+

PW-

PLED-

NC

Hard Drive Activity LED

Reset Switch

7) SPDIF_O(S/PDIFOutHeader) This header supports digital S/PDIF Out and connects a S/PDIF digital audio cable (provided by expansion cards)

for digital audio output from your motherboard to certain expansion cards like graphics cards and sound cards. For example, some graphics cards may require you to use a S/PDIF digital audio cable for digital audio output from your motherboard to your graphics card if you wish to connect an HDMI display to the graphics card and have digital audio output from the HDMI display at the same time.For information about connecting the S/PDIF digital audio cable, carefully read the manual for your expansion card.

Pin No. Definition1 SPDIFO2 GND1

Power LED Power Switch

• PW (Power Switch): Connects to the power switch on the chassis front panel. You may configure

the way to turn off your system using the power switch (refer to Chapter 2, "BIOS Setup," "Power Management," for more information).

• HD (Hard Drive Activity LED): Connects to the hard drive activity LED on the chassis front panel. The

LED is on when the hard drive is reading or writing data. • RES (Reset Switch):

Connects to the reset switch on the chassis front panel. Press the reset switch to restart the computer if the computer freezes and fails to perform a normal restart.

• NC:No connection.

• A RAID 0 or RAID 1 configuration requires at least two hard drives. If more than two hard drives are to be used, the total number of hard drives must be an even number.

• A RAID 10 configuration requires four hard drives.

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8) F_AUDIO(FrontPanelAudioHeader) The front panel audio header supports Intel High Definition audio (HD) and AC'97 audio. You may connect

your chassis front panel audio module to this header. Make sure the wire assignments of the module connector match the pin assignments of the motherboard header. Incorrect connection between the module connector and the motherboard header will make the device unable to work or even damage it.

9) F_USB30(USB3.0/2.0Header) The header conforms to USB 3.0/2.0 specification and can provide two USB ports. For purchasing the

optional 3.5" front panel that provides two USB 3.0/2.0 ports, please contact the local dealer.

10) F_USB1/F_USB2(USB2.0/1.1Headers) The headers conform to USB 2.0/1.1 specification. Each USB header can provide two USB ports via an

optional USB bracket. For purchasing the optional USB bracket, please contact the local dealer.

12

910

For HD Front Panel Audio: For AC'97 Front Panel Audio:Pin No. Definition

1 MIC2_L2 GND3 MIC2_R4 -ACZ_DET5 LINE2_R6 GND7 FAUDIO_JD8 No Pin9 LINE2_L

10 GND

Pin No. Definition1 MIC2 GND3 MIC Power4 NC5 Line Out (R)6 NC7 NC8 No Pin9 Line Out (L)

10 NC

• The front panel audio header supports HD audio by default. • Audio signals will be present on both of the front and back panel audio connections simultaneously. • Some chassis provide a front panel audio module that has separated connectors on each wire instead of a

single plug. For information about connecting the front panel audio module that has different wire assignments, please contact the chassis manufacturer.

109

21

Pin No. Definition Pin No. Definition1 Power (5V) 6 USB DY+2 Power (5V) 7 GND3 USB DX- 8 GND4 USB DY- 9 No Pin5 USB DX+ 10 NC

• Do not plug the IEEE 1394 bracket (2x5-pin) cable into the USB header. • Prior to installing the USB bracket, be sure to turn off your computer and unplug the power cord from the power

outlet to prevent damage to the USB bracket.

Pin No. Definition Pin No. Definition Pin No. Definition1 VBUS 8 D1- 15 SSTX2-2 SSRX1- 9 D1+ 16 GND3 SSRX1+ 10 NC 17 SSRX2+4 GND 11 D2+ 18 SSRX2-5 SSTX1- 12 D2- 19 VBUS6 SSTX1+ 13 GND 20 No Pin7 GND 14 SSTX2+

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10

1120

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- 16 -

13) CI(ChassisIntrusionHeader) This motherboard provides a chassis detection feature that detects if the chassis cover has been removed.

This function requires a chassis with chassis intrusion detection design.

12) CLR_CMOS(ClearCMOSJumper) Use this jumper to clear the BIOS configuration and reset the CMOS values to factory defaults. To clear

the CMOS values, use a metal object like a screwdriver to touch the two pins for a few seconds.

• Always turn off your computer before clearing the CMOS values. • After system restart, go to BIOS Setup to load factory defaults (select Load Optimized Defaults) or manually

configure the BIOS settings (refer to Chapter 2, "BIOS Setup," for BIOS configurations).

Open: Normal

Short: Clear CMOS Values

11) COM(SerialPortHeader) The COM header can provide one serial port via an optional COM port cable. For purchasing the optional

COM port cable, please contact the local dealer.

12

910

Pin No. Definition Pin No. Definition1 NDCD- 6 NDSR-2 NSIN 7 NRTS-3 NSOUT 8 NCTS-4 NDTR- 9 NRI-5 GND 10 No Pin

Pin No. Definition1 Signal2 GND

14) BAT(Battery) The battery provides power to keep the values (such as BIOS configurations, date, and time information)

in the CMOS when the computer is turned off. Replace the battery when the battery voltage drops to a low level, or the CMOS values may not be accurate or may be lost.

You may clear the CMOS values by removing the battery:1. Turn off your computer and unplug the power cord.2. Gently remove the battery from the battery holder and wait for one minute. (Or use a metal

object like a screwdriver to touch the positive and negative terminals of the battery holder, making them short for 5 seconds.)

3. Replace the battery.4. Plug in the power cord and restart your computer.

• Always turn off your computer and unplug the power cord before replacing the battery. • Replace the battery with an equivalent one. Danger of explosion if the battery is replaced with an incorrect model. • Contact the place of purchase or local dealer if you are not able to replace the battery by yourself or uncertain

about the battery model. • When installing the battery, note the orientation of the positive side (+) and the negative side (-) of the battery

(the positive side should face up). • Used batteries must be handled in accordance with local environmental regulations.

1

- 17 -

Chapter2 BIOSSetup

• Because BIOS flashing is potentially risky, if you do not encounter problems using the current version of BIOS, it is recommended that you not flash the BIOS. To flash the BIOS, do it with caution. Inadequate BIOS flashing may result in system malfunction.

• It is recommended that you not alter the default settings (unless you need to) to prevent system instability or other unexpected results. Inadequately altering the settings may result in system's failure to boot. If this occurs, try to clear the CMOS values and reset the board to default values. (Refer to the "Load Optimized Defaults" section in this chapter or introductions of the battery/clear CMOS jumper in Chapter 1 for how to clear the CMOS values.)

BIOS (Basic Input and Output System) records hardware parameters of the system in the CMOS on the motherboard. Its major functions include conducting the Power-On Self-Test (POST) during system startup, saving system parameters and loading operating system, etc. BIOS includes a BIOS Setup program that allows the user to modify basic system configuration settings or to activate certain system features.When the power is turned off, the battery on the motherboard supplies the necessary power to the CMOS to keep the configuration values in the CMOS.To access the BIOS Setup program, press the <Delete> key during the POST when the power is turned on.To upgrade the BIOS, use either the GIGABYTE Q-Flash or @BIOS utility. • Q-Flash allows the user to quickly and easily upgrade or back up BIOS without entering the operating system. • @BIOS is a Windows-based utility that searches and downloads the latest version of BIOS from the Internet

and updates the BIOS.

2-1 Startup ScreenThe following startup Logo screen will appear when the computer boots.(Sample BIOS Version: E7)

Function Keys

• When the system is not stable as usual, select the LoadOptimizedDefaults item to set your system to its defaults. • The BIOS Setup menus described in this chapter are for reference only and may differ by BIOS version.

On the main menu of the BIOS Setup program, press arrow keys to move among the items and press <Enter> to accept or enter a sub-menu. Or you can use your mouse to select the item you want.

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2-2 M.I.T.

Whether the system will work stably with the overclock/overvoltage settings you made is dependent on your overall system configurations. Incorrectly doing overclock/overvoltage may result in damage to CPU, chipset, or memory and reduce the useful life of these components. This page is for advanced users only and we recommend you not to alter the default settings to prevent system instability or other unexpected results. (Inadequately altering the settings may result in system's failure to boot. If this occurs, clear the CMOS values and reset the board to default values.)

This section provides information on the BIOS version, CPU base clock, CPU frequency, memory frequency, total memory size, CPU temperature, Vcore, and memory voltage.

` M.I.T. Current Status This screen provides information on CPU/memory frequencies/parameters.

` Advanced Frequency Settings & CPU Clock Control

Allows you to manually set the CPU base clock in 1 MHz increments. (Default: Auto) Important: It is highly recommended that the CPU frequency be set in accordance with the CPU

specifications. & Processor Graphics Clock

Allows you to set the onboard graphics clock. The adjustable range is from 300 MHz to 2000 MHz. & CPUNorthBridgeFrequency

Allows you to manually set the CPU North Bridge frequency. The adjustable range is from 800 MHz to 6000 MHz.

& CPU Clock Ratio Allows you to alter the clock ratio for the installed CPU. The adjustable range is dependent on the CPU

being installed. & CPU Frequency

Displays the current operating CPU frequency. ` Advanced CPU Core Settings & CPU Clock Ratio, CPU Frequency

The settings above are synchronous to those under the same items on the Advanced Frequency Settings menu.

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& Core Performance Boost(Note1) Allows you to determine whether to enable the Core Performance Boost (CPB) technology, a CPU

performance-boost technology. (Default: Auto) & Turbo Performance Boost Ratio

Allows you to determine whether to improve CPU performance. (Default: Disabled) & Core Performance Boost Ratio

Allows you alter the ratio for the CPB. The adjustable range is dependent on the CPU being installed. (Default: Auto)

& AMD Cool&Quiet function �Enabled Lets the AMD Cool'n'Quiet driver dynamically adjust the CPU clock and VID to reduce

heat output from your computer and its power consumption. (Default) �Disabled Disables this function.

& SVM Mode Virtualization enhanced by Virtualization Technology will allow a platform to run multiple operating systems

and applications in independent partitions. With virtualization, one computer system can function as multiple virtual systems. (Default: Enabled)

& C6 Mode Allows you to determine whether to let the CPU enter C6 mode in system halt state. When enabled, the

CPU core frequency will be reduced during system halt state to decrease power consumption. The C6 state is a more enhanced power-saving state than C1. (Default: Enabled)

& CPU core Control Allows you to determine whether to manually enable/disable CPU cores. Automatic mode allows the BIOS

to enable all CPU cores (number of cores available depends on the CPU being used). (Default: Automatic mode)

& APM Enables or disables Application Power Management. (Default: Enabled)

& ExtremeMemoryProfile(X.M.P.)(Note2) Allows the BIOS to read the SPD data on XMP memory module(s) to enhance memory performance when

enabled. �Disabled Disables this function. (Default) �Profile1 Uses Profile 1 settings. �Profile2 (Note 2) Uses Profile 2 settings.

& AMDMemoryProfile(A.M.P.)(Note2) Allows the BIOS to read the SPD data on AMP memory module(s) to enhance memory performance when

enabled. (Default: Disabled) & System Memory Multiplier

Allows you to set the system memory multiplier. Auto sets memory multiplier according to memory SPD data. (Default: Auto)

& MemoryFrequency(MHz) This value is automatically adjusted according to the CPU Clock Control and System Memory Multiplier

settings.

` Advanced Memory Settings & ExtremeMemoryProfile(X.M.P.)(Note2),SystemMemoryMultiplier,MemoryFrequency(MHz)

The settings above are synchronous to those under the same items on the Advanced Frequency Settings menu.

(Note 1) This item is present only when you install a CPU that supports this feature.(Note 2) This item is present only when you install a CPU and a memory module that support this feature.

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` Channel A/B Timing SettingsThis sub-menu provides memory timing settings for each channel of memory. The respective timing setting screens are configurable only when Memory Timing Mode is set to Manual or Advanced Manual. Note: Your system may become unstable or fail to boot after you make changes on the memory timings. If this occurs, please reset the board to default values by loading optimized defaults or clearing the CMOS values.

` Advanced Voltage SettingsThis sub-menu allows you to set CPU, chipset and memory voltages.

& Memory Timing Mode Manual and Advanced Manual allows the Channel Interleaving, Rank Interleaving, and memory timing

settings below to be configurable. Options are: Auto (default), Manual, Advanced Manual. & Profile DDR Voltage

When using a non-XMP memory module or Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.) is set to Disabled, this item will display as 1.50V. When Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.) is set to Profile1 or Profile2, this item will display the value based on the SPD data on the XMP memory.

& Channel Interleaving Enables or disables memory channel interleaving. Enabled allows the system to simultaneously access

different channels of the memory to increase memory performance and stability. (Default: Auto) & Rank Interleaving

Enables or disables memory rank interleaving. Enabled allows the system to simultaneously access different ranks of the memory to increase memory performance and stability. (Default: Auto)

` PC Health Status & Reset Case Open Status

�Disabled Keeps or clears the record of previous chassis intrusion status. (Default) �Enabled Clears the record of previous chassis intrusion status and the Case Open field will

show "No" at next boot. & Case Open

Displays the detection status of the chassis intrusion detection device attached to the motherboard CI header. If the system chassis cover is removed, this field will show "Yes", otherwise it will show "No". To clear the chassis intrusion status record, set Reset Case Open Status to Enabled, save the settings to the CMOS, and then restart your system.

& CPU Vcore/Dram Voltage/+3.3V/+5V/+12V Displays the current system voltages.

& CPU/System Temperature Displays current CPU/system temperature.

& CPU/System Fan Speed Displays current CPU/system fan speeds.

& CPU Fan Speed Control Allows you to determine whether to enable the fan speed control function and adjust the fan speed.

�Normal Allows the fan to run at different speeds according to the CPU temperature. You can adjust the fan speed with EasyTune based on your system requirements. (Default)

�Silent Allows the fan to run at slow speeds. �Manual Allows you to control the fan speed under the Fan Speed Percentage item. �Disabled Allows the fan to run at full speeds.

& Fan Speed Percentage Allows you to control the fan speed. This item is configurable only when CPU Fan Speed Control is set

to Manual. Options are: 0.75 PWM value /oC ~ 2.50 PWM value /oC.

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& System Fan Speed Control Allows you to determine whether to enable the fan speed control function and adjust the fan speed.

�Normal Allows the fan to run at different speeds according to the system temperature. You can adjust the fan speed with EasyTune based on your system requirements. (Default)

�Silent Allows the fan to run at slow speeds. �Manual Allows you to control the fan speed under the Fan Speed Percentage item. �Disabled Allows the fan to run at full speeds.

& Fan Speed Percentage Allows you to control the fan speed. This item is configurable only when System Fan Speed Control is

set to Manual. Options are: 0.75 PWM value /oC ~ 2.50 PWM value /oC.

2-3 System Information

This section provides information on your motherboard model and BIOS version. You can also select the default language used by the BIOS and manually set the system time.

& System Language Selects the default language used by the BIOS.

& System Date Sets the system date. The date format is week (read-only), month, date, and year. Use <Enter> to switch

between the Month, Date, and Year fields and use the <Page Up> or <Page Down> key to set the desired value.

& System Time Sets the system time. The time format is hour, minute, and second. For example, 1 p.m. is 13:0:0. Use

<Enter> to switch between the Hour, Minute, and Second fields and use the <Page Up> or <Page Down> key to set the desired value.

& Access Level Displays the current access level depending on the type of password protection used. (If no password is set,

the default will display as Administrator.) The Administrator level allows you to make changes to all BIOS settings; the User level only allows you to make changes to certain BIOS settings but not all.

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2-4 BIOSFeatures

& BootOptionPriorities Specifies the overall boot order from the available devices. For example, you can set hard drive as the first priority

(BootOption#1) and DVD ROM drive as the second priority (BootOption#2). The list only displays the device with the highest priority for a specific type. For example, only hard drive defined as the first priority on the Hard Drive BBS Priorities submenu will be presented here.

Removable storage devices that support GPT format will be prefixed with "UEFI:" string on the boot device list. To boot from an operating system that supports GPT partitioning, select the device prefixed with "UEFI:" string.

Or if you want to install an operating system that supports GPT partitioning such as Windows 7 64-bit, select the optical drive that contains the Windows 7 64-bit installation disk and is prefixed with "UEFI:" string.

& HardDrive/CD/DVDROMDrive/FloppyDrive/NetworkDeviceBBSPriorities Specifies the boot order for a specific device type, such as hard drives, optical drives, floppy disk drives,

and devices that support Boot from LAN function, etc. Press <Enter> on this item to enter the submenu that presents the devices of the same type that are connected. This item is present only if at least one device for this type is installed.

& BootupNumLockState Enables or disables Numlock feature on the numeric keypad of the keyboard after the POST. (Default:

Enabled) & SecurityOption

Specifies whether a password is required every time the system boots, or only when you enter BIOS Setup. After configuring this item, set the password(s) under the Administrator Password/User Password item.

�Setup A password is only required for entering the BIOS Setup program. �System A password is required for booting the system and for entering the BIOS Setup

program. (Default) & FullScreenLOGOShow

Allows you to determine whether to display the GIGABYTE Logo at system startup. Disabled skips the GIGABYTE Logo when the system starts up. (Default: Enabled)

& Fast Boot Enables or disables Fast Boot to shorten the OS boot process. Ultra Fast provides the fastest bootup

speed. (Default: Disabled)

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& VGA Support Allows you to select which type of operating system to boot.

�Auto Enables legacy option ROM only. �EFI Driver Enables EFI option ROM. (Default)

This item is configurable only when Fast Boot is set to Enabled or Ultra Fast. & USB Support

�Disabled All USB devices are disabled before the OS boot process completes. �Full Initial All USB devices are functional in the operating system and during the POST. �Partial Initial Part of the USB devices are disabled before the OS boot process completes.

(Default) This item is configurable only when Fast Boot is set to Enabled. This item is disabled when Fast Boot is

set to Ultra Fast. & PS2 Devices Support

�Disabled All PS/2 devices are disabled before the OS boot process completes. �Enabled All PS/2 devices are functional in the operating system and during the POST.

(Default) This item is configurable only when Fast Boot is set to Enabled. This item is disabled when Fast Boot is

set to Ultra Fast. & NetWorkStackDriverSupport

�Disabled Disables booting from the network. (Default) �Enabled Enables booting from the network.

This item is configurable only when Fast Boot is set to Enabled or Ultra Fast.

& Windows 8 Features Allows you to select the operating system to be installed. (Default: Other OS)

& CSM Support Enables or disables UEFI CSM (Compatibility Support Module) to support a legacy PC boot process.

�Always Enables UEFI CSM. (Default) �Never Disables UEFI CSM and supports UEFI BIOS boot process only.

This item is configurable only when Windows 8 Features is set to Windows 8 or Windows 8 WHQL. & Boot Mode Selection

Allows you to select which type of operating system to boot. �UEFI and Legacy Allows booting from operating systems that support legacy option ROM or UEFI

option ROM. (Default) �Legacy Only Allows booting from operating systems that only support legacy Option ROM. �UEFI Only Allows booting from operating systems that only support UEFI Option ROM.

This item is configurable only when CSM Support is set to Always. & LANPXEBootOptionROM

Allows you to select whether to enable the legacy option ROM for the LAN controller. (Default: Disabled) This item is configurable only when CSM Support is set to Always.

& StorageBootOptionControl Allows you to select whether to enable the UEFI or legacy option ROM for the storage device controller.

�Disabled Disables option ROM. �Legacy Only Enables legacy option ROM only. (Default) �UEFI Only Enables UEFI option ROM only. �Legacy First Enables legacy option ROM first. �UEFI First Enables UEFI option ROM first.

This item is configurable only when CSM Support is set to Always.

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& OtherPCIDeviceROMPriority Allows you to select whether to enable the UEFI or Legacy option ROM for the PCI device controller other

than the LAN, storage device, and graphics controllers. �Legacy OpROM Enables legacy option ROM only. �UEFI OpROM Enables UEFI option ROM only. (Default)

& Networkstack Disables or enables booting from the network to install a GPT format OS, such as installing the OS from

the Windows Deployment Services server. (Default: Disabled) & Ipv4 PXE Support

Enables or disables IPv4 PXE Support. This item is configurable only when Networkstack is enabled. & Ipv6 PXE Support

Enables or disables IPv6 PXE Support. This item is configurable only when Networkstack is enabled.

& Administrator Password Allows you to configure an administrator password. Press <Enter> on this item, type the password, and

then press <Enter>. You will be requested to confirm the password. Type the password again and press <Enter>. You must enter the administrator password (or user password) at system startup and when entering BIOS Setup. Differing from the user password, the administrator password allows you to make changes to all BIOS settings.

& User Password Allows you to configure a user password. Press <Enter> on this item, type the password, and then press

<Enter>. You will be requested to confirm the password. Type the password again and press <Enter>. You must enter the administrator password (or user password) at system startup and when entering BIOS Setup. However, the user password only allows you to make changes to certain BIOS settings but not all.

To cancel the password, press <Enter> on the password item and when requested for the password, enter the correct one first. When prompted for a new password, press <Enter> without entering any password. Press <Enter> again when prompted to confirm.

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2-5 Peripherals

& IOMMU Enables or disables AMD IOMMU support. (Default: Enabled)

& OnChipUSBController Enables or disables the integrated USB controller. (Default: Enabled)

& HD Audio Azalia Device Enables or disables the onboard audio function. (Default: Enabled) If you wish to install a 3rd party add-in audio card instead of using the onboard audio, set this item to

Disabled. & Legacy USB Support

Allows USB keyboard/mouse to be used in MS-DOS. (Default: Enabled) & XHCI Hand-off

Determines whether to enable XHCI Hand-off feature for an operating system without XHCI Hand-off support. (Default: Enabled)

& EHCI Hand-off Determines whether to enable EHCI Hand-off feature for an operating system without EHCI Hand-off

support. (Default: Disabled) & Port 60/64 Emulation

Enables or disables emulation of I/O ports 64h and 60h. This should be enabled for full legacy support for USB keyboards/mice in MS-DOS or in operating system that does not natively support USB devices. (Default: Disabled)

& USB Storage Devices Displays a list of connected USB mass storage devices. This item appears only when a USB storage device is

installed. & OnboardLANController

Enables or disables the onboard LAN function. (Default: Enabled) If you wish to install a 3rd party add-in network card instead of using the onboard LAN, set this item to

Disabled.

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` GFXConfiguration & Primary Video Device

Specifies the first initiation of the monitor display from the installed PCI Express graphics card or the onboard graphics.

�IGD Video Sets the onboard graphics as the first display. �NB PCIe Slot Video Sets the PCI Express graphics card on the PCI Express slot controlled by the

North Bridge as the first display. (Default) & Integrated Graphics

Enables or disables the onboard graphics function. �Auto The BIOS will automatically enable or disable the onboard graphics depending on

the graphics card being installed. (Default) �Disabled Disables the onboard graphics. �Force Always activates the onboard graphics, whether or not a PCI Express card is

installed.

` SATAConfiguration & OnChipSATAChannel

Enables or disables the integrated SATA controllers. (Default: Enabled) & OnChipSATAType

Enables or disables RAID for the SATA controllers integrated in the Chipset or configures the SATA controllers to AHCI mode.

�Native IDE Configures the SATA controller to IDE mode. �RAID Enables RAID for the SATA controller. �AHCI Configures the SATA controllers to AHCI mode. Advanced Host Controller Interface

(AHCI) is an interface specification that allows the storage driver to enable advanced Serial ATA features such as Native Command Queuing and hot plug. (Default)

& PORT0HotPlug~PORT3HotPlug Enables or disable the hot plug capability for each SATA port. (Default: Disabled)

& SATAPoweronPORT0~SATAPoweronPORT3 Enables or disables each SATA port. (Default: Enabled)

` SuperIOConfiguration This section provides information on the super I/O chip and allows you to configure the serial port.

& Serial Port A Enables or disables the onboard serial port. (Default: Enabled)

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2-6 Power Management

& Resume by Alarm Determines whether to power on the system at a desired time. (Default: Disabled) If enabled, set the date and time as following:

�Wake up day: Turn on the system at a specific time on each day or on a specific day in a month. �Wake up hour/minute/second: Set the time at which the system will be powered on automatically.

Note: When using this function, avoid inadequate shutdown from the operating system or removal of the AC power, or the settings may not be effective.

& HPET Timer (Note) Enables or disables High Precision Event Timer (HPET) for Windows 8/7 operating system. (Default:

Enabled) & Soft-OffbyPWR-BTTN

Configures the way to turn off the computer in MS-DOS mode using the power button. �Instant-Off Press the power button and then the system will be turned off instantly. (Default) �Delay 4 Sec. Press and hold the power button for 4 seconds to turn off the system. If the power

button is pressed for less than 4 seconds, the system will enter suspend mode. & AC BACK

Determines the state of the system after the return of power from an AC power loss. �Memory The system returns to its last known awake state upon the return of the AC power. �Always On The system is turned on upon the return of the AC power. �Always Off The system stays off upon the return of the AC power. (Default)

& PowerOnByKeyboard Allows the system to be turned on by a PS/2 keyboard wake-up event. Note: To use this function, you need an ATX power supply providing at least 1A on the +5VSB lead.

�Disabled Disables this function. (Default) �Password Set a password with 1~5 characters to turn on the system. �Keyboard 98 Press POWER button on the Windows 98 keyboard to turn on the system. �Any Key Press any key to turn on the system.

(Note) Supported on Windows 8/7 operating system only.

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& PowerOnPassword Set the password when PowerOnByKeyboard is set to Password. Press <Enter> on this item and set a password with up to 5 characters and then press <Enter> to accept.

To turn on the system, enter the password and press <Enter>. Note: To cancel the password, press <Enter> on this item. When prompted for the password, press <Enter>

again without entering the password to clear the password settings. & PowerOnByMouse

Allows the system to be turned on by a PS/2 mouse wake-up event. Note: To use this function, you need an ATX power supply providing at least 1A on the +5VSB lead.

�Disabled Disables this function. (Default) �Move Move the mouse to turn on the system. �Double Click Double click on left button on the mouse to turn on the system.

& ErP Determines whether to let the system consume least power in S5 (shutdown) state. (Default: Disabled) Note: When this item is set to Enabled, the following functions will become unavailable: PME event wake

up, power on by mouse, power on by keyboard, and wake on LAN.

2-7 Save & Exit

& Save & Exit Setup Press <Enter> on this item and select Yes. This saves the changes to the CMOS and exits the BIOS Setup

program. Select No or press <Esc> to return to the BIOS Setup Main Menu. & Exit Without Saving

Press <Enter> on this item and select Yes. This exits the BIOS Setup without saving the changes made in BIOS Setup to the CMOS. Select No or press <Esc> to return to the BIOS Setup Main Menu.

& LoadOptimizedDefaults Press <Enter> on this item and select Yes to load the optimal BIOS default settings. The BIOS defaults

settings help the system to operate in optimum state. Always load the Optimized defaults after updating the BIOS or after clearing the CMOS values.

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& BootOverride Allows you to select a device to boot immediately. Press <Enter> on the device you select and select Yes

to confirm. Your system will restart automatically and boot from that device. & SaveProfiles

This function allows you to save the current BIOS settings to a profile. You can create up to 8 profiles and save as Setup Profile 1~ Setup Profile 8. Press <Enter> to complete. Or you can select Select File in HDD/USB/FDD to save the profile to your storage device.

& LoadProfiles If your system becomes unstable and you have loaded the BIOS default settings, you can use this function

to load the BIOS settings from a profile created before, without the hassles of reconfiguring the BIOS settings. First select the profile you wish to load and then press <Enter> to complete. You can select Select File in HDD/USB/FDD to input the profile previously created from your storage device or load the profile automatically created by the BIOS, such as reverting the BIOS settings to the last settings that worked properly (last known good record).

Chapter 3 Appendix

Before you begin • At least two SATA hard drives (to ensure optimal performance, it is recommended that you use two hard drives with identical model and capacity). If you do not want to create RAID, you may prepare only one hard drive.

• Windows 8/7/XP (32-bit) setup disk. • Motherboard driver disk. • A USB flash drive. • A USB floppy disk drive (needed during Windows XP installation) • An empty formatted floppy disk (needed during Windows XP installation)

ConfiguringtheOnboardSATAControllerA.InstallingSATAharddrive(s)inyourcomputerAttach one end of the SATA signal cable to the rear of the SATA hard drive and the other end to available SATA port on the motherboard. Then connect the power connector from your power supply to the hard drive.B.ConfiguringSATAcontrollermodeinBIOSSetupMake sure to configure the SATA controller mode correctly in system BIOS Setup. For the BIOS Setup menus, refer to Chapter 2, "BIOS Setup," "Peripherals."Steps:1. Turn on your computer and press <Delete> to enter BIOS Setup during the POST (Power-On Self-Test).

Ensure OnChip SATA Channel is enabled under Peripherals. Set OnChipSATAType to RAID.2. If you want to configure UEFI RAID, follow the steps in "C-1." To enter the legacy RAID ROM, save the

settings and exit BIOS Setup. Refer to "C-2" for more information.The BIOS Setup menus described in this section may differ from the exact settings for your motherboard. The actual BIOS Setup menu options you will see shall depend on the motherboard you have and the BIOS version.

3-1 ConfiguringSATAHardDrive(s)

C-1.UEFIRAIDConfigurationThis mode supports Windows 8 64-bit installation only.To configure UEFI RAID, you need to prepare a USB flash drive using FAT 32 file format and copy all files (including the UEFI RAID utility rcadm.efi) in the \BootDrv\UEFI RAID Utility folder in your motherboard driver disk to the flash drive. Then follow the steps below.

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Step:In BIOS Setup, go to BIOSFeatures and set OSType to Windows 8 Features and CSM Support to Never. Save the changes and exit BIOS Setup.Running the UEFI RAID UtilityRestart your computer and press <F12> to enter the boot device configuration menu. Use the up or down arrow key to select your USB flash drive which is prefixed with "UEFI:" string. Then press <Enter> to access the screen. To run the UEFI RAID utility, enter the following commands. You can enter the commands at Shell or fsx: level (x represents the disk number for your USB flash drive). Checking Disk Information To see the hard drive information, enter the following commands and press <Enter>. You will see CONTROLLER LIST and DISK LIST displayed on the screen. rcadm -M -qa

Creating a RAID ArrayTo create a RAID array, refer to the following examples to enter the commands and press <Enter>. When succeeded, the message which says "created sucessfully" will appear.

Example1:CreateaRAID0arraywithDrive0andDrive1andthearraysizeis40GB. rcadm -C -r0 -d 0 1 -s 40000("C"=Create a array, "r0"=RAID 0, d 0 1=Drive 0 and Drive 1, "s 40000"=Size of 40 GB; to use the maximum size allowed, do not enter "s x0000")Example2:CreateaRAID5arraywithDrive1~4andthearraysizeis75GB. rcadm -C -r5 -d 1 2 3 4 -s 75000("C"=Create a array, "r5"=RAID 5, d 1 2 3 4=Drive 1~4, "s 75000"=Size of 75 GB)After you create the array, you can enter the "rcadm -M -qa" commands to see the array information. In addition to the CONTROLLER LIST and DISK LIST information, you will see ARRAY LIST information displayed on the screen, too.

Deleting an ArrayTo delete an array, enter the following commands and press <Enter>. rcadm -D -a 1("D"=Delete a array, "a 1"=Array 1, to delete all arrays, enter "a *")When prompted to confirm, enter YES to delete or NO to cancel, and then press <Enter>.

To exit the UEFI RAID utility, enter "exit" and press <Enter>.

C-2.ConfiguringLegacyRAIDROMEnter the legacy RAID BIOS setup utility to configure a RAID array. Skip this step and proceed with the installation of Windows operating system for a non-RAID configuration.

Steps:After the POST memory test begins and before the operating system boot begins. Press <Ctrl> + <R> to enter the RAID BIOS setup utility.

Deleting an existing disk array could result in loss of data. Record all array information including the array type, the disk members, and stripe block size in case you wish to undo a deletion.

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Creating a RAID Array1. To create a new array, press <Enter> on the Create Array option.2. The selection bar will move to the Disks section on the right of the screen. Select the hard drives to be

included in the RAID array. Use the up or down arrow key to select a hard drive and press <Insert>. The selected hard drive will be shown in green. To use all of the hard drives, simply press <A> to select all. Then press <Enter> and the selection bar will move to the User Input section on the left bottom of the screen.

3. First, select a RAID mode and press <Enter>. The selections available depend on the number of the hard drives being installed. Then follow the on-screen instructions to specify the array size. You can select All available space to use the maximum size allowed or use the up or down arrow key to adjust the size and press <Enter>.

4. Select a caching mode. Options include Read/Write, Read Only, and None. Then press <Enter> to proceed. 5. �Finally,�a�message�which�says�"Confirm�Creation�of�Array"�will�appear.�Press�<C>�to�confirm�or�<Esc>�to�

return to the previous screen. When completed, you will see the new array on the main screen. To exit the RAID�BIOS�utility,�press�<Esc>�and�then�press�<C>�to�confirm.�

Deleting an ArrayThe Delete Array(s) menu option allows for deletion of disk array assignments. 1. Select Delete Array(s) in the Main Menu and press <Enter>.2. In the Arrays section, press the <Insert> key on the array you want to delete and then press <Enter> to proceed. 3. When�prompted�to�confirm,�press�<C>�to�continue�the�deletion�or�<Esc>�to�cancel.�

Installing the SATA RAID/AHCI Driver and Operating SystemWith the correct BIOS settings, you are ready to install the operating system.A. Installing Windows 8/7(The following instructions use Windows 8 as the example operating system.)Step 1:You need to install the SATA RAID/AHCI driver during the OS installation. Use an alternative system to copy the�SATA�RAID/AHCI�driver�from�the�motherboard�driver�disk�to�a�USB�flash�drive.�Copy�the�Hw8_A88 folder under BootDrv in the driver disk.Step 2:Boot from the Windows 8 setup disk and perform standard OS installation steps. When the screen requesting you to load the driver appears, select Browse.Step 3:Then�browse�to�the�USB�flash�drive�and�select�the�location�of�the�driver.�The�locations�of�the�drivers�are�as�follows:RAID driver for Windows 8 32-bit: Hw8_A88\RAID\x86 RAID driver for Windows 8 64-bit: Hw8_A88\RAID\x64 AHCI driver for Windows 8 32-bit: Hw8_A88\AHCI\W8 AHCI driver for Windows 8 64-bit: Hw8_A88\AHCI\W864A For Windows 7, browse to the Hw7_A88 folder.Step 4:Select AMD-RAID Controller and click Next to load the driver and continue the OS installation.

B. Installing Windows XP (32-bit)Before�installing�Windows�XP,�connect�a�USB�floppy�disk�drive�to�your�computer�first�because�you�need�to�install�the�SATA�RAID/AHCI�driver�from�a�floppy�disk�that�contains�the�driver�during�the�OS�installation.�Without�the�driver, the hard drive(s) may not be recognized during the Windows setup process. First, copy the driver from the�motherboard�driver�disk�to�a�floppy�disk.�Refer�to�the�methods�below.Method A:

• For�the�AMD�A78,�copy�all�files�in�the�\BootDrv\Hxp�folder�to�your�floppy�disk.

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• Before� installing� the� drivers,� first� install� the� operating� system.� (The� following� instructions� use�Windows 8 as the example operating system.)

• After installing the operating system, insert the motherboard driver disk into your optical drive. Click on the message "Tap to choose what happens with this disc" on the top-right corner of the screen and select "Run Run.exe." (Or go to My Computer, double-click the optical drive and execute the Run.exe program.)

After inserting the driver disk, "Xpress Install" will automatically scan your system and then list all the drivers that are recommended to install. You can click the Install All button and "Xpress Install" will install all the recommended drivers. Or click Install Single Items to manually select the drivers you wish to install.

3-2 Drivers Installation

Method B:Steps:1. Use an alternative system and insert the motherboard driver disk.2. From your optical drive folder, double click the Menu.exe�file�in�the�BootDrv�folder.�A�Command�Prompt�

window will open.3. �Insert�the�blank�formatted�disk�(if�you're�using�a�USB�floppy�disk�drive,�make�sure�it�is�designated�as�drive�

A). Select the controller driver by pressing the corresponding letter from the menu and press <Enter>. For example, for the AMD A78, select 6) hseries AHCI/RAID for XP.

Your�system�will�then�automatically�copy�the�driver�files�to�the�floppy�disk.�Press�any�key�to�exit�when�finished.

Refer to the following for installing the driver during the Windows setup process.Step 1:Restart�your�system�to�boot�from�the�Windows�XP�setup�disk�and�press�<F6>�as�soon�as�you�see�the�message�"Press�F6�if�you�need�to�install�a�3rd�party�SCSI�or�RAID�driver."�A�screen�will�then�appear�asking�you�to�specify�an�additional�SCSI�adapter.�Press�<S>.Step 2:Insert�the�floppy�disk�containing�the�SATA�RAID/AHCI�driver�and�press�<Enter>.�Select�AMD AHCI Compatible RAID Controller-x86 platform and press <Enter>.Step 3:On the next screen, press <Enter> to continue the driver installation. After the driver installation, you can proceed with�the�Windows�XP�installation.

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Regulatory Statements

RegulatoryNoticesThis document must not be copied without our written permission, and the contents there of must not be imparted to a third party nor be used for any unauthorized purpose.Contravention will be prosecuted. We believe that the information contained herein was accurate in all respects at the time of printing. GIGABYTE cannot, however, assume any responsibility for errors or omissions in this text. Also note that the information in this document is subject to change without notice and should not be construed as a commitment by GIGABYTE.

OurCommitmenttoPreservingtheEnvironmentIn addition to high-efficiency performance, all GIGABYTE motherboards fulfill European Union regulations for RoHS (Restriction of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment) and WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) environmental directives, as well as most major worldwide safety requirements. To prevent releases of harmful substances into the environment and to maximize the use of our natural resources, GIGABYTE provides the following information on how you can responsibly recycle or reuse most of the materials in your "end of life" product.

RestrictionofHazardousSubstances(RoHS)DirectiveStatementGIGABYTE products have not intended to add and safe from hazardous substances (Cd, Pb, Hg, Cr+6, PBDE and PBB). The parts and components have been carefully selected to meet RoHS requirement. Moreover, we at GIGABYTE are continuing our efforts to develop products that do not use internationally banned toxic chemicals.

WasteElectrical&ElectronicEquipment(WEEE)DirectiveStatementGIGABYTE will fulfill the national laws as interpreted from the 2002/96/EC WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) directive. The WEEE Directive specifies the treatment, collection, recycling and disposal of electric and electronic devices and their components. Under the Directive, used equipment must be marked, collected separately, and disposed of properly.

WEEE Symbol StatementThe symbol shown below is on the product or on its packaging, which indicates that this product must not be disposed of with other waste. Instead, the device should be taken to the waste collection centers for activation of the treatment, collection, recycling and disposal procedure. The separate collection and recycling of your waste equipment at the time of disposal will help to conserve natural resources and ensure that it is recycled in a manner that protects human health and the environment.

For more information about where you can drop off your waste equipment for recycling, please contact your local government office, your household waste disposal service or where you purchased the product for details of environmentally safe recycling.

� When your electrical or electronic equipment is no longer useful to you, "take it back" to your local or regional waste collection administration for recycling.

� If you need further assistance in recycling, reusing in your "end of life" product, you may contact us at the Customer Care number listed in your product's user's manual and we will be glad to help you with your effort.

Finally, we suggest that you practice other environmentally friendly actions by understanding and using the energy-saving features of this product (where applicable), recycling the inner and outer packaging (including shipping containers) this product was delivered in, and by disposing of or recycling used batteries properly. With your help, we can reduce the amount of natural resources needed to produce electrical and electronic equipment, minimize the use of landfills for the disposal of "end of life" products, and generally improve our quality of life by ensuring that potentially hazardous substances are not released into the environment and are disposed of properly.

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FCCNotice(U.S.A.Only)This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

� Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna. � Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver. � Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected. � Consult a dealer or experienced TV/radio technician for help.

Canada,IndustryCanada(IC)Notices/Canada,avisd'IndustryCanada(IC) � This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003 and RSS-210. � Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause interference, and (2) this

device must accept any interference, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device. � Cet appareil numérique de classe B est conforme aux normes canadiennes ICES-003 et RSS-210. � Son fonctionnement est soumis aux deux conditions suivantes : (1) cet appareil ne doit pas causer

d'interférence et (2) cet appareil doit accepter toute interférence, notamment les interférences qui peuvent affecter son fonctionnement.

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Contact Us

GIGA-BYTETECHNOLOGYCO.,LTD.Address: No.6, Bao Chiang Road, Hsin-Tien Dist., New Taipei City 231,TaiwanTEL: +886-2-8912-4000, FAX: +886-2-8912-4005Tech. and Non-Tech. Support (Sales/Marketing) : http://ggts.gigabyte.com.twWEB address (English): http://www.gigabyte.comWEB address (Chinese): http://www.gigabyte.tw

You may go to the GIGABYTE website, select your language in the language list on the top right corner of the website.

• GIGABYTE Global Service System

To submit a technical or non-technical (Sales/Marketing) question, please link to:http://ggts.gigabyte.com.twThen select your language to enter the system.